MEADE COUNTY, Ky. (WAVE/LEX 18) — People came together and honored Meade County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Hulsey on Monday.
Hulsey died on Saturday after a physical altercation with a suspect while on duty.
According to WAVE, Hulsey's autopsy was performed on Monday, but the results have not been released as of Tuesday morning.
On Monday, several first responders escorted Hulsey's body from the Harrison County Hospital to Hager Funeral Home in Brandenburg, Kentucky, according to WAVE.
Susan Ammons and her great-niece, Charlotte, were outside of the funeral home when Hulsey's body was brought there. They told WAVE that they were holding the American Flag while bringing his body to the funeral home.
Ammons told WAVE that Charlotte waved to the first responders.
"She's two, she doesn't really understand, but one day she will. He was a great guy, great paramedic, firefighter, deputy... an asset to our community," Ammons told WAVE.
Judy Gulish, who lives next to the funeral home, said she has seen a lot of grief over the years, but this one seemed different.
"Makes you feel like one of your own," Gulish told WAVE.
Shawn Thomas, a Meade County EMT, was partners with Hulsey. He told WAVE that he will miss all the conversations he would have with Hulsey.
"Not only was he a good person, he was a mentor... When you see him in the back of the truck with patients, he was a teddy bear," Thomas told WAVE.
According to a press release, Hulsey was out giving a search warrant to a suspect in Payneville, Kentucky. The suspect, Terry Gonterman, threw a small container into the weeds, which contained two small bags of meth upon investigation.
After the altercation, Hulsey fell to the ground and appeared to have trouble breathing. Two detectives on the scene gave Hulsey CPR until he was transported to the hospital.
Gonterman has been charged with manslaughter, trafficking, assault and possessing drug parapgernalia, according to WAVE.
"He was a one-of-a-kind person. He died doing what he loved," Thomas told WAVE.
A candlelight vigil has been scheduled for Hulsey on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Meade County Courthouse.
Hulsey's visitation has been scheduled for Friday from noon to 8 p.m. at Hager Funeral Home.
